Artifacts

In general imaging, artifacts are unwanted structures or distortions that appear on an ultrasound image, not corresponding to actual anatomical features. These can obscure pathology or mimic disease, leading to misinterpretation. Common causes include sound wave interactions like reverberation, shadowing, and enhancement, as well as equipment limitations and patient factors. Recognizing and understanding ultrasound artifacts is crucial for accurate diagnosis in general imaging, enabling clinicians to differentiate true pathology from imaging anomalies and optimize scanning techniques for clearer, diagnostic-quality images.